by Joost Nusselder |
Last Updated: January 5, 2021 The sweet crispness of bacon is a delicious treat for any mood.
This salty yet sweet umami-flavored snack can now taste even better with the use of a pellet smoker.
Pellet smokers are outdoor cookers that combine the features of gas grills, charcoal smokers, and kitchen ovens.
The efficiency of this grill is therefore perfect for meat, and bacon is definitely no exception.
Read on for an easy to follow pellet smoked bacon recipe that will leave your friends and family begging for more.
We’ll also look at which type of pellets go best with this recipe so that you can enjoy your pellet smoked bacon to the absolute fullest.
In this post we'll cover:
Pellet Smoker Bacon
Bacon is great because it’s both yummy and versatile. You can eat it on its own, as a side dish, or even as a topping to give certain meals some more flavor.
Not only has it got an awesome taste; it also comes with some nutritional perks.
Bacon can serve as a source of high-quality protein. It’s also rich in vitamins and has decent amounts of minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc.
However, it can also be rich in saturated fats and, like all things, should be enjoyed in moderation.
Pellet Smoker Bacon Recipe
Equipment
- Pellet Smoker
Ingredients
- 1-2 pounds of sliced bacon
Instructions
- Start by preheating your pellet smoker to 300 degrees F.
- Once preheated, place your bacon slices directly onto the grill grate and close the lid.
- Cook bacon for 25 minutes. Depending on the thickness of your slices, you may need to turn the bacon about halfway through.
- Open the lid and keep an eye on your bacon during the last 5 minutes, as it can go from done to overdone very fast.
- Make sure all bacon slices are cooked evenly. When they are at the desired crispness, remove from the grill and serve your yummy smoked bacon with pride.
Pellet Smoker Bacon Best Pellets to Use
Pellet grills provide a natural smokey flavor that greatly complements cuts like bacon.
However, the flavor of pellets you use with your smoker can also have an impact on the taste of your bacon.
While there are many options, the pellets listed below are some of the most commonly recommended when it comes to smoking bacon.
- Apple: Most often used for pork and poultry, applewood has a light, fruity taste that will enhance the flavor of your bacon well.
- Cherry: Just like apple, cherry wood has a mild, fruity flavor that gives great color and taste to the meat.
- Hickory: Hickory wood has a rich, smokey taste – a delightful contrast to the crisp sweetness of your bacon.
- Pecan: Wonderfully nutty and rich, pecan wood blends well with other flavors and provides the perfect twist to spice up your bacon.
- Maple: Maple wood is mild with a hint of sweetness, making it a great pairing for pork cuts like bacon.
- Mix: For a fresh alternative to these classics, this pellet blend of hickory, maple, and cherry comes highly recommended.
Pellet Smoker Bacon Final Tips
It can be handy to spray your grill with a non-stick spray while it is preheating so that the bacon doesn’t stick while it cooks.
The cooking time of your bacon can vary depending on the thickness of the slices. Thin slices can be better for cooking more evenly.
However, thick slices ensure the bacon doesn’t cook too quickly and are also great at holding onto the smokey flavor your pellet grill provides.
If you’d like to increase this smokey flavor further, simply cook the bacon for longer at a lower temperature.
It’s also important to remember that as bacon cools, it usually firms up a bit. Therefore, one hack if you want to avoid this is to take it off the grill 1-2 minutes before you think it’s done.
If you want to drain off any excess grease before serving your bacon, simply place it on a plate lined with paper towels for a couple of minutes.
Next: transform any grill in a pellet smoker with these 4 best pellet & wood chip smoker boxes & tubes.
